treasures in the shed

I did a little cleaning in the shed yesterday. Look what I found. A hanging scale. Where does it want to be? What does one do with an old hanging scale these days? For now it'll just hang out right there.



I found this sprinkler contraption. I thought it was some kind of toy tractor at first. I guess you're supposed to hook it onto your hose and the water makes it move along the hose. I don't quite understand the reasoning behind that. Maybe I'll have to hook it up and see what it can do.



I like this old Rain Bird sprinkler head. Cate does too. I hooked it up to the hose and turned on the water and she oooohed and ahhhhhed (and squealed a little too). The middle part shoots the water way up in the air. The spinny things on the side shoot the water sideways. I remember when my grandma used it. I like green. I wonder what the numbers are for. I'll be experimenting with this one.



I found this 8 quart milk can (at least I think it's a milk can...I could be wrong). It's cute. I don't have a clue what to do with it but I like it.



I love this sprinkler head. Looks like my grandma was quite the collector of sprinkler apparatus. This one hooks on and makes a lovely shower to water the flowers. I'll be using this one for sure.



This little cabinet was in the back corner and covered with spider webs and dust and dirt and who knows what else. I dragged it out (it's pretty heavy for being so small...or I'm just a wimp) and sprayed it off. Inside the drawers I found three contraptions that go on your fishing rod (I have no idea what those are called) and a bunch of stuff for painting. Lots of old paint sticks, an old spatula covered in dry paint (I wonder if Grandpa got in trouble with Grandma for using her spatula to stir the paint) and some old rollers. When I touched that one on the end the old foam stuff just crumbled off on my fingers.



So here's the lovely back porch scene I created once all dust and spider webs were removed. I found the flower pot in the shed too and just planted some flowers I picked up at Walmart. The watering can is Grandma's too. The chairs are probably from Walmart too, just a few years ago.

I'm itching to paint that cabinet now. It needs a few new handles too. I don't really know what color it wants to be though. Any ideas?

For now it's sitting happily on the back porch just waiting for me to make a decision.

I hope it's patient.


p.s. Remember the other stuff I found in the garage that's waiting to get spiffed up? It's all still waiting. I've done nothing.

weekend to do list update

Considering the fact that my weekend to do list only had two items, I feel happy that I was able to accomplish almost everything.

Stuff.

We certainly did lots of stuff.

Grama Bama and I tended the cousins on Friday while their parents worked. Cate and Danny came along too, of course. We sent Cate home to be with her daddy after a few hours at the cousins' house since she woke up at 6:30 that morning and was a beast by 10:00. I love her dearly but man sakes alive she's a beast when she's tired.

This picture was taken a little before Cranky Cate emerged. Isn't she adorable in Grama Bama's hat? Yep. She is.



We sat out front and watched Baby Ray Ray do his adorable wobbly walk down the sidewalk. I try to not let it bother me that he learned how to walk at 10 months old and Cate didn't master that very important milestone until 17 1/2 months old. Ray Ray's just an overachiever.

Kris kept himself busy catching bees in the back yard. BEES! That kid's a crazy daredevil. He did set them all free after a few minutes. That freaked me out too because I figured if he was lucky enough to not get stung when they went in the jar then surely he'd get stung upon release.

He didn't though.



We headed to the parade in the evening. Cate was still sleeping when we left (a little before 6:00) so we left her at the house with Grama Bama.

They walked down later when she woke up because she wanted to see where all that music was coming from.



I'll just go ahead and admit that I got a little choked up when the Silver Band came rolling past. If I get my piccolo cleaned up and in working condition do you think I could try out to be in the parade next year? If I had a bucket list that would be on it. Play the piccolo on the Silver Band wagon.



I was excited to see Danny and Dan when they finally walked past our viewing spot. Danny was thrilled to be in the parade. He didn't look so thrilled when we saw him though. Hot and tired and grouchy is more like it. I'm glad he gave it a try though. He's not usually one to be thrilled about anything but Star Wars and Legos.

Danny ditched the parade and sat on the curb with us to play Angry Birds and watch the rest of the floats.



Cate joined us later and Aunt Judy snapped this picture of us.

Look at her skin.

Then look at mine.

I mean really. What is up with those wrinkles? I know you're tired of hearing about the wrinkles but look at them. I'm 38 not 88. Sheesh.



Help is on the way though.

Look what my lovely sister gave me for my birthday last week.

I'm saving it to use closer to my high school reunion (which is only a little over a month away). I'm hoping I can show up to that looking a little more like a 38-year-old instead of a 38-year-old's great-grandma.

Saturday was spent attempting to be awesome. I'm not sure I made it but I tried.

I did make scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. I usually just pour cereal into bowls so I think a warm breakfast qualifies as awesomeness.

Grama Bama and I took the kids to Costco.

By the time we got back (2 hours later!) it was time for Quiet Time.

I ditched all the sleepy heads and ran some errands, bought some new shorts and picked up a few foodstuffs at the Walmart.

The only part of that afternoon outing that was awesome was the new shorts. And that I bought the same size I bought last year and they fit (despite the fact that I've been feeling like Fatty McFattington lately).



We headed to Cocolito's for dinner.

I'm definitely awesome for suggesting that.

(Sadly, nobody let me know that I had failed to remove the little baggie that holds the extra button on my new shorts and it was hanging out the back for all to see on our little dinner outing. Good thing I was sitting for most of it.)



Cute kids on the ride home.



And a new pepper. The first veggie in the garden. Looks like it's pretty big but this was the first time I'd seen it. I guess I don't check on the garden very often. I've kind of let that be Dan's thing.



I was once again mostly awesome when I made some rice krispie peanut buttery chocolate and butterscotch bar thingees.

Then I stacked them all pretty on a plate to take their picture. When I came back from getting my camera, here's what I saw:



I tried to get Cate ready for church and she rejected my dress choice. She said it was "too stripey."

She picked out this little number from the closet instead.

Three years old and already she has an opinion about the stripey-ness of her outfits.



After church, time with the fam.

It was pretty funny watching Danny try to learn how to use a slip n' slide on a hill. Most of the time his feet slipped out from under him and he landed on his bony little bum.



So that's the to do list update.

I did stuff.

I was a little bit awesome.

That's the kind of to do list I could get used to.

to do list: four things

Number One: Deliver spoonfuls of cookies and cream peanut butter to a few friends. I'm feeling like a genius because I froze the spoons so I could wrap them up all cute like and the peanut butter wouldn't get smeared inside the bag. Pretty nifty, I know. Part two of this Number One is never make cookies and cream peanut butter again. It's deadly. I don't have the self control I thought I did. Part three of Number One is get rid of the extra Oreo cookies that I didn't use.



Number Two: Make some of these hanging garden seed starters. I found this idea in my Family Fun magazine. It uses those notebook pages that are for collecting cards. You fill them with soil and seeds and then hang them on a window. Saves space for people like me who don't have lots of window sills for lots of little containers. Plus, if I hang them on the window high enough, nobody can tip them over and make big messes for me to vacuum up. Part two of Number Two is venture into the backyard today and try to start making the garden area plantable. That's the not fun part.



Number Three: Admire the magnetic cupboard in my kitchen. I made it all by myself on Friday. Now my fridge is naked again, just the way I like it.

Number Four: Attempt to make the ironing pile shrink down about two inches, make meatballs for dinner, make the bed, avoid making any baked goods, go to the park with 5 kids if it's nice out, make it home with all 5 kids, get Cate to take a nap, exercise, make it to bedtime with a smile on my face.

Guess which one will be the most challenging.

:o)

{That was a hint. I never use those sideways smiley faces unless I absolutely need to.}

to do list: star wars snowflakes

A friend of mine sent me a link to these Star Wars snowflakes (Hi, Debra!). It's good to have friends who are looking out for ways to feed my son's obsessions. She even let me borrow her exacto knife because mine is nowhere to be found. Some of the cuts aren't from the side so scissors just won't cut it (hee hee).

Here's the problem. I can't figure out how to fold the paper. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've tried 3 times but the directions are just not helping me. I know Dan would help me but he hasn't been around much. Work work work work work.

So my poor little Danny is left with a mommy who can't fold paper and cut out a template. Well, I probably could cut out the template but I'm not sure what size it's supposed to be. Maybe it's in the directions somewhere. I don't know.

I'm throwing up my hands for now and giving up. The Star Wars snowflakes are being added to the to do list. I have all winter to make them. For now, I'll just show them to Danny online and let him keep on bugging his daddy to make them for him. (You're welcome, Dan.)

Look at Darth Vader with the Galactic Empire logo in the middle. How clever.


Speaking of Star Wars stuff, take a look at these finger puppets I found. Holy moly, they're adorable! I would get them for Danny but I'm not sure he'd appreciate their cuteness. He'd try to make them fight each other and then who knows what would happen. I can just see them unraveling right before my very eyes.

Plus, I can't figure out who all the characters are supposed to be. Who's that tan guy next to Han Solo? I'm not sure if I love Yoda as a finger puppet, but Darth Vader has never been cuter.

Wouldn't it be great if someone turned them into gloves? Just remove that mystery tan guy and stick the Stormtrooper (or Clone Trooper?) in his place. Knit the missing glove part and there you go. Dang, I wish I was crafty.


p.s. Danny saw the snowflakes as I was writing this. I asked him who the guys were. Clone Trooper. Boba Fett. Darth Vader. He got them all right. That's my boy.

to do list: easy scrappy wreath

I'm not a crafty person.
I'd like to be.
I think I kinda sorta used to be.
And then I had kids.

But it's ok.

I have a to do list.
It might never have anything crossed off it, but I keep a list anyway.

Here's my latest addition.

Easy Scrappy Wreath

Remember my friend, Arlene?
She has a blog.
She also has a dog.
And she's crafty.
And really nice.

Her scrappy wreath looks like something I could do.
I know how to use a pair of scissors.
I know how to tie knots.

Done.

If you want more good stuff,
check out the recipes and crafts on her sidebar.
Did I mention that she's crafty?
She is.

I can't wait to try her pumpkin sheet cake and a few Oreo truffles.

And I know Cate would be adorable in one of these little girl tutus.
(hint hint)

So there you go.
Check out her blog.
Make a scrappy wreath.

Be crafty.
Be happy.
Make some Oreo truffles.
Share one with me.

to do list: cake in a can

{thanks for the picture, plain chicken!}

Today is Grama Bama's birthday.
And Aunt Jenny's too.

Happy birthday, y'all!

If I had my act together, you would each be receiving a cake in a can today.

A birthday cake.
Baked in a can.
(not like a soup can, bigger than that)
Shipped in the mail.
To family members who live thousands of miles away.

What a great idea!

But I don't have my act together.
So the cake in a can is being added to my to do list.
Maybe next year.

Have a happy birthday anyway!

Here's a little birthday treat instead.

Two sweet little grandkids
(or nephews to Aunt Jenny)

The bottom one is my favorite.
Want to know how I got them to smile like that?

Instead of telling them to say cheese,
I told them to say boogers.

And they did.
And then they laughed.

Little boys are so easily amused.

I love it.

more before pictures

Cate had her very first play date yesterday. I actually took her to a little friend's house and left her there to play. She didn't cry and from what the parents said, she played nicely and had fun. I could really get used to this play date thing.

Danny and I walked home after dropping Cate off. He went into his room to play and I went in the backyard. I got started on a little Christmas project. I'm actually thinking ahead this year. That's a first. I did a little spray painting. That's all. Nothing grand.

It was warm and sunny so I decided to haul out a few more things from the garage to add to my before pictures. I'm excited to see what they'll look like when the "after" pictures happen. That might not be for another 10 years or so. I'm thinking that's how long it will take my kids to figure out how to be 100% potty trained, get their own fishy crackers and drinks and keep themselves entertained without being fussy or clingy. That's the only way I'm ever going to have time to turn the befores into afters.

So for now, here's a few more befores.

First, the one up at the top. It looks like some kind of holder for serving drinks. I don't know. It really wants to be painted and fancied up though. I need to plan a party I guess. Or at least just serve drinks to 24 people.

I'm pretty sure I remember Jenny (my sis) calling dibs on this mirror and shelf. If she had forgotten about it, I just ruined that since she reads this sometimes. Maybe she'll let me paint them and keep them for myself anyway.



These are old windows. I've wanted to do something with them for years but I don't have a clue what to do. For now, they sit in the garage collecting dust and spider webs (and dead bees in those spider webs). Any suggestions of what to do with them (besides giving them away) are welcome.


I love this stool. It needs a little tender loving care. This is one project I won't be doing on my own...at least not before I learn how to use my sewing machine.



This one's not a before, just a fun find. It's an old movie projector. Isn't it cute? I wonder if it still works.

Remember the metal cart from my other set of before pictures?

Look what I found.

Someone else with the same metal cart used it as an end table. It looks beautiful in the picture. I can imagine what would happen in my house if I had an end table on wheels. Never mind. I don't even want to imagine that. I'm pretty sure someone would end up getting hurt though.

{image found here}

That's all for now. Maybe if the weather stays nice I'll dig out more treasures.

Don't hold your breath.

to do list: book sling

Never mind about the rain gutter bookshelves. I found something in my new Family Fun magazine that I like even better.

A book sling.

Made out of fabric.

That I don't even have to sew.

That's a good thing since I still don't know how to use the sewing machine my mom gave me for my birthday about 10 years ago. I just had to have a sewing machine. I don't know what I was thinking.

Back to the slings, all you need is fabric, a funky curtain rod with two rod holder things and some wooden dowels.

It looks do-able.

That's why it's on my to do list now.

It might have just gotten bumped to the top of the list.

Danny's got some Star Wars library books that will fit quite nicely in there.




p.s. Did you know that Anakin built C-3PO? And that he likes to soak in an oil bath (C-3PO, not Anakin)? I had no idea. Thank goodness for library books. I learn something new almost every day.

the before pictures

I'm pretty sure my grandpa made this rocking horse. It was up in the attic. The kids got a head start on decorating it. I'm not sure what color it wants to be. I'm guessing scribble chalk is not it though.


Here's a close up of the horse's head. Back in the day, someone did a little pencil sketch of where the eyes should be.


I got this bench for free from some neighbors. It is screaming for a glossy coat of red. If you listen really closely you can hear it.


You can't really tell from the picture but these are kid chairs. My neighbor gave them to me. The other 6 are not pictured but they are just as cute. My kids and I were over at her house watching the jackhammer guy one day. She was sweeping her garage. I saw the chairs in the corner and made a comment about how cute they were (even though they were covered in dust and spider webs). She told me I could have them. All 8 of them! I asked if she was sure and she said yes. I quickly hauled them over to my yard before she could change her mind.

I'm thinking I'll paint them blue, red, yellow and green. I have no idea where I'll put them but they're going to be stinkin' cute.


I love this old chalkboard. I think it was in the attic too. I'm not sure what color it wants to be. Maybe turquoise. Seems like that color is all the rage now-a-days. Here it is back in its heyday when it had a place of importance on my grandma's kitchen wall.


That's my mom in the furry slippers reading the paper. My dad's the guy on the phone.


When I was a freshman in college I lived with my grandma. This metal cart held my typewriter. I love it. I wish I had an extra bedroom that could be my office. If I did, I would totally have this cart in there. I kind of like the green color. Maybe it just needs to be washed off. I don't know.



See how the sides come up? That's where I used to put my White Out and extra typing paper. Remember White Out? I loved the smell.


This rocking chair was in the attic too. I have a picture of my grandma sitting on this chair in her kitchen holding my uncle when he was a wee babe. Maybe it wants to be turquoise too. If you look closely at the back of the rocker part you can see that that's the color it used to be. My grandpa probably made this too.


I bought this desk from my across-the-street neighbors. They were getting ready for a yard sale. I bought it for $10. I have no where to put it but I like it anyway. What color does it want to be? Who wants to volunteer to scrape all those stickers off for me?


This beauty was given to me by my other neighbor. For free! I don't know what's going on with these neighbors of mine but I love them! This desk needs some serious sanding. Maybe that's why I've done nothing to it yet. I kind of like the blueish/grayish color of the paint that's already on it. It would go in my office if I had one. Or maybe in the playroom (if I had one of those too). For now it just sits in the back garage waiting its turn to become beautiful again.


I have big plans for this chest of drawers. It's going in Cate's room. Right now it's in the front garage because it's too heavy for me to scootch to the back all by myself and nobody seems to be helping me. Ahem. I think it could be a nice creamy color with new handles. I think my dad might have made this. Or his dad.

And one more before picture:


You never know. If I ever have some "work" done I'll be glad I have this picture to remember my wrinkles, saggy jowls, droopy eyelids and the bump at the end of my nose.